Sports Diary

India had a forgettable outing in the 2nd T20 international against Australia as the visitors bounced back in the series with a crushing 8-wicket win at the Baraspara Stadium in Guwahati. Though, India missed to seal the series with a win in Guwahati and Team India Captain Virat Kohli got out for a duck, he created a world record for getting maximum innings in T20 for his maiden duck — a record which was previously held by Pakistani batsman Shoaid Malik.

Virat took 47 innings to score his first T20 duck while Malik scored his first T20 duck in his 40th innings. Yuvraj Singh follows Malik with 39 innings to score his first T20 duck. Virat Kohli’s duck in this game was the first by an Indian captain in 85 T20I matches.

Lionel Messi Hat-Trick Powers Argentina Into World Cup 2018

Lionel Messi scored a brilliant hat-trick as Argentina sealed their place at the 2018 World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Ecuador last fortnight. Barcelona superstar Messi single-handedly rescued Argentina’s World Cup hopes as the South American giants came from behind to win in Quito.

Romario Ibarra had given Ecuador a shock lead after only 38 seconds but Messi struck twice inside the opening 20 minutes to give Argentina the lead before adding a third in the second half. It was a vintage display from Messi, delivering for Argentina when it mattered most to erase fears that the two-time champions might not qualify for next year’s finals in Russia. After bad start, Messi’s double-blast galvanised Argentina, who gradually grew in confidence and finally scored his hat-trick goal in 62nd minute of the match.

Ruthless Lewis Hamilton Roars To Victory in F-1 Japanese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton romped to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix last fortnight to close in on a fourth world title after Sebastian Vettel retired with engine failure four laps in. The Briton dominated from pole, steering his Mercedes to a crushing eighth win of the year, stretching his Formula One championship lead over Vettel to 59 points with just 100 left to play for. “Honestly I could only have dreamed of having this kind of gap,” said Hamilton after holding off a late charge from Max Verstappen in Suzuka.

“The team has done a phenomenal job, they’re just so meticulous so a big thank you to the guys.” The Red Bulls of Verstappen — who stunned Hamilton to win in Malaysia last week — and Daniel Ricciardo secured a double podium for the second successive race.

Caroline Garcia Stuns World No. 1 Simona Halep To Win China Open

Unseeded Caroline Garcia of France won her second title in as many weeks as she stunned new world number one Simona Halep in the closely fought final of the China Open last fortnight. Garcia is in the form of her life and edged out the Romanian second seed 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to add the China Open to the Wuhan Open title she lifted last weekend, making it five WTA crowns in all. Garcia’s feat was all the more remarkable because she was carrying a leg injury that has required frequent on-court treatment and completed a mammoth three-set quarter-final win well past midnight on October 6th evening.

The 23-year-old, who is set to rise from number 15 to nine in the world, sank to her knees on the hard court when she finally sealed victory in the second-set tie break.

India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu Takes First Asian Tour Win In Taiwan

India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu shot a two-under-par 70 to claim his first Asian Tour victory at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in Taiwan. Sandhu edged American Johannes Veerman to the title after trading three birdies against one bogey and ended with a total of 12-under-par 276 at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

“I’m proud of myself that I was able to focus on my own my game. I was just trying to hit the next shot the best that I could and I won,” said Sandhu after clinching the title. He became the tenth first-time Asian Tour winner in 2017. Veerman almost forced a playoff when his eagle chip on the 18th hole hit the pin but ended up a runner-up for the second time in his career on the Asian Tour.

Mahaveer Raghunathan First Indian To Claim European Racing Title

Mahaveer Raghunathan became the first Indian to win a European racing championship when he sped to victory in the last two races of the prestigious Boss GP Championship (Formula Class) in Italy. In a strong field of 20 racers from across the world, the 19-year-old Chennai youngster amassed 263 points in seven rounds to annex the title. India’s top racer Narain Karthikeyan had won the British Formula Ford in 1994 and the Formula Asia Series in 1996. Karun Chandhok too had won a couple of titles in Asia. Mahaveer (PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport) had a spectacular season, bagging podium finishes in each of the seven rounds.

He enjoyed a massive stroke of good luck in the second race as his main rival, Italy’s Salvatore de Plano (MM International Sport) pulled out of the race in the fourth lap.